A progressive lawmaker on Tuesday challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to walk the talk and start implementing change in his administration instead of ordering state schools and universities to include the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge in flag rites. 

Palace orders inclusion of Bagong Pilipinas hymn, pledge in flag-raising ceremonies

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said she agrees with Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel that making the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge mandatory for all, even the private sector, would require amendments to the existing Flag and Heraldic Code.

“As legislator titingnan natin ‘yung consistency n’yan doon sa Republic Act 8491, ‘yung tinatawag na flag law kasi parang ginawa sa [memorandum cirucular] na mandatory ito sa mga government employees and students of SUCs. Ito ay may political motive, itong pagpapakanta at pagpapa-recite nitong hymn and pledge. Nangangamba tayo na maging precedent ito sa mga susunod na administration gagawa ng mga ganitong gimik,” she said.

She warned the inclusion of the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge could mean very lengthy flag ceremonies.

 “Pag-ginawa  ‘yan sa mga public school, ‘yung first period mauubos na, ‘yung 40 minutes mauubos na kasi ‘tung Lupang Hinirang, Panatang Makabayan, kakanta pa ‘yan nung city hymn o municipal hymn. Kung idadagdag ‘yan talagang mauubos ‘yung first period,” she said.

The Bagong Pilipinas hymn has been a staple in events President Marcos Jr. attends. Before the issuance of the memorandum, the hymn was used to signify the President's arrival at a venue.

The pledge, “Panata sa Bagong Pilipinas,” meanwhile, is a promise to live according to “Bagong Pilipinas” by putting the Philippines first and by working alongside others towards national development.

It is also a promise to participate in and support government advocacies “because development is not just the responsibility of a few.”

Castro said that while no one contests the need for change, she said the change should already be ongoing.

“Dalawa’t kalahating taon na ang present administration. Ano ba ‘yung pagbabago sa buhay ng ating mga mamamayan?”

“Mensahe ko kay PBBM, walk the talk, gawin na lang n’ya ‘yung tunay na gusto ng ating mamamayan. Hindi niya maitatago ang tunay na sitwasyon ng ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng mandatory na pagkanta ng hymn na ito.”

“Magtrabaho na tayo, 2 ½ years na walang pang nakikitang tunay na pagbabago ang ating mga kababayan.”

The Senate of the Philippines skipped using the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge during its flag ceremony on Monday, the first under Senate President Francis Escudero.

Escudero said the government's memorandum circular is applicable only to the executive branch and does not automatically cover the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and other constitutional commissions.

Senate skips Bagong Pilipinas hymn, pledge at flag ceremony